Addisu Gobena wins Sydney Marathon with course-record performance

Ethiopian athlete Addisu Gobena won the Sydney Marathon on Saturday August 30, setting a new course record at the World Athletics Platinum Label event.

The former javelin thrower clocked 2:04:42 to claim victory in the 24th edition of the marathon and break the previous course record by more than a minute.

Fellow Ethiopian Hailemariam Kiros had set the previous course record when he won last year’s race. Hailemariam, however, finished sixth this time around.

Gobena, who finished runner-up in last year’s Sydney Marathon, went one better this year with a record-breaking performance.

Ethiopia also secured second place, with Chimdessa Debele finishing just four seconds behind Gobena in 2:04:46.

Jemal Mekonnen finished fifth, while defending champion Hailemariam placed sixth.

In the women’s race, Kenyan runner Piers Jepchirchir took the title with a time of 2:18:31.

Ethiopians Shure Demse, Heaven Haylu and Meseret Abebayehu also finished among the top six.